Create a Nintendo Switch Illustration

In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a detailed Nintendo Switch illustration in Graphic for iPad.

For starters, you will learn how to set up a simple grid, how to center objects and how to numerically position shapes. Using basic shapes along with some boolean commands, you will learn how to create the more complex objects. Taking full advantage of the Effects pane and its features, you will learn how to add subtle shading and highlights.

Using the Layers panel, you will learn how to group, organize and name the components of your illustration. Finally, you will learn how to easily multiply objects and how to add a pretty simple text label.

Step 1

From the Documents Browser, tap the plus button at the top-right corner of the Titlebar and choose the Grid document style.

Select Pixels for the base units, set the Width to 780 px and the Height to 450 px, and then tap the Create button.

Next, we'll set up the document grid. Focus on the right side of the Titlebar and tap the ruler icon to open the Properties panel and go to the Grid pane.

Be sure that the Snap to Grid feature is enabled and keep in mind that this is where you should come whenever you wish to enable or disable the grid or the Snap to Grid feature. Open the Grid Spacing pane, enter 5 px in both Spacing boxes and 0 lines in the Subdivisions box.

Step 2

Focus on the Toolbar and tap the Line color well. Drag the Alpha slider to 0% to make your Line invisible.

Tap the Fill color well and replace the existing color with R=255 G=180 B=0.
Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and set the Radius to 2 in the Tool pane. Create a 410 x 240 px shape.

Step 3

Make sure that your rounded rectangle is still selected, tap the ruler icon and open the Arrange pane. Tap the Align Horizontal and Align Vertical commands to move your selection in the center of the canvas.

Step 4

For the following steps you will need a grid every 1 px. This means that you need to open the Grid pane, open the Grid Spacing pane and enter 1 px in both Spacing boxes.

Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and set the Radius to 5. Create a 15 px rounded square and place it exactly as shown in the first image. Tap and hold with a second finger while dragging to easily create a perfect rounded square. You can position this shape manually, using the grid as a references or you can do it numerically using the Geometry pane. Make sure that your rounded square is selected, tap that ruler icon and open the Geometry pane. Focus on the Position settings, and then set the X to 177 px and the Y to 100 px.

Switch to the Rectangle Tool and create two, 4 px squares. Place these new shapes as shown in the second image.

Step 5

Pick the Path Selection Tool, focus on the Tool pane and activate the Add to Selection mode. Use this mode to select your rounded square along with the two tiny squares.

Move to the left side of your Titlebar and tap that paperclip icon to open the Edit pane. Use the Copy and Paste commands to easily duplicate your selections. Make sure that these new shapes remain selected, open the Geometry pane and tap the Flip Horizontal button to flip your selected shapes horizontally. Once you're done, place them as shown in the second image.

Step 6

Using the Move Tool, select all the shapes made so far. Open the Combine pane and tap the Subtract command.

Step 7

Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and set the Radius to 2. Create two, 10 px rounded squares and place them as shown in the first image.

Using the same tool, create another two, 10 px rounded squares and place them as shown in the second image.

Step 8

Pick the Move Tool and select all the shapes made so far. Open the Combine pane and tap the Union command.

Step 9

Make sure that your shape stays selected and focus on the right side of your Titlebar. Tap the leftmost icon and go to the Fill pane.

Replace Color with a Gradient and then tap the Linear button. Set the Angle to -90 ° and then move to the gradient color stops. Tap the left one and set its color to R=33 G=36 B=37, and then tap the right one and set its color to R=43 G=46 B=47. tap on the gradient bar to add a new color stop. Set its location to 99% and change the color to R=101 G=102 B=102. Add another three color stops and use the settings shown in the following image.

Step 10

Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and set the Radius to 5. Create a 390 x 220 px shape and fill it with R=2 G=2 B=2. Make sure that this new shape stays selected and move it to the center of the canvas using the same Align Horizontal and Align Vertical commands from the Arrange pane.

Step 11

Pick the Rectangle Tool and create a 330 x 180 px shape. Fill this new rectangle with R=29 G=29 B=29 and center it.

Step 12

Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and set the Radius to 1. Create a 35 x 3 px shape and fill it with R=2 G=2 B=2. Make sure that this new shape stays selected, go to the Geometry pane and set the Position settings to X: 239 px and Y: 104 px. You also need to send this shape to back. Re-open the Arrange pane and drag that Order slider to the left.

Step 13

Focus on the right side of your Titlebar and tap the rightmost icon to open the Layers panel. Double-tap the name of the existing layer and change it to "Screen". Use the add button (+) from the top of the panel to add a second layer. Rename it "Sides" and make sure that it remains selected, as the new shapes you are about to create will go here.

For the following steps you will need a grid every 5 px. Return to the Grid Spacing pane from the Grid pane and enter 5 px in both Spacing boxes.

Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and set the Radius to 50. Create a 120 x 240 px shape and place it as shown in the first image (X: 555px Y: 105 px). Switch to the Rectangle Tool, create a 50 x 240 px shape and place it as shown in the second image.

Step 14

Select the two shapes highlighted in the first step and tap the Subtract command from the Combine pane.

Step 15

Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and set the Radius to 4. Create a 20 x 240 px shape and place it as shown in the first image. Lower the Radius to 2, create a 20 px rounded square and place it as shown in the second image.

Step 16

Select the three shapes highlighted in the first step and tap the Union command from the Combine pane. Fill the resulting shape with R=249 G=85 B=71, make sure that it stays selected and open the Edit pane. Use the Copy and the Paste in Place commands to quickly add a copy of your selection in the same place.

Step 17

Pick the Rectangle Tool, create a 70 x 40 px shape and place it as shown in the first image. Switch to the Path Selection Tool and make sure that the Add to Selection mode is active. Select this new rectangle along with the copy of that red shape and tap the Intersect command from the Combine pane.

Make sure that the resulting shape stays selected, remove the fill color, and then open the Stroke pane. Set its color to R=43 G=46 B=47, change the Width to 6 pt and don't forget to check the Round Join button.

Step 18

Make sure that the shape made in the previous step stays selected and open the Effects pane.

Check the round checkbox of the existing Inner Shadow effect to activate it and then tap it. Enter 0 pt in the X Offset box and 1 pt in the Y Offset box. Drag the Blur slider to 0 and then tap the color wheel of this effect. Drag the Alpha slider to 100% and replace the existing color with R=101 G=102 B=102. Once you're done, send this shape to back.

Step 19

Select your red shape, focus on the Effects pane and tap the Fill color well. Replace the color with the linear gradient shown below and make sure that the Angle is set to 90 °.

Step 20

Make sure that your red shape stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the existing Inner Shadow effect and tap its color well. Set the color to white (R=255 G=255 B=255) and drag the Alpha slider to 80%. Tap your Inner Shadow effect to expand it, enter the attributes shown below, and then tap the settings icon of this effect. Tap Blend Mode from the newly opened context menu, select Soft Light from that list, and then tap the Done button.

Step 21

Make sure that your red shape stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Use the add button (+) from the top of the pane to add a second Inner Shadow effect. Select it and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 22

Make sure that your red shape stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Add a third Inner Shadow effect, select it and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 23

Make sure that your red shape stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Add a fourth Inner Shadow effect, select it and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 24

Select the two shapes highlighted in the first image and add copies in the same place using the same Copy and Paste in Place commands from the Edit pane. Flip the copies horizontally using the button from the Geometry pane and place them as shown in the third image.

Step 25

Select your right, red shape and focus on the Effects pane. Replace the linear gradient and the two colors used for the Inner Shadow effects as shown below.

Step 26

Open the Layers panel and add a third layer. Name it "Round Buttons" and make sure that it stays selected.

For the following steps you will need a grid every 1 px. Return to the Grid Spacing pane from the Grid pane and enter 1 px in both Spacing boxes.

Pick the Ellipse Tool, create an 18 px circle and place it as shown in the following image (X: 139 px Y: 205 px). Don't forget that tapping and holding with a second finger while dragging makes it easier to create perfect circles. Fill this new shape with white (R=255 G=255 B=255), for now.

Step 27

Pick the Rectangle Tool, create a 4 px square and place it as shown in the first image (X: 146 px Y: 211 px). Focus on the top side of this new shape and switch to the Path Selection Tool. First, select the right anchor point and remove it using the Delete (X) button from the left side of your Titlebar, and then select the other anchor point and drag it 2 px to the right.

Step 28

Select your white circle along with the black triangle and pick the Rotate Tool. Focus on the Tool pane, set the Angle to 180 ° and tap that Copy button to create horizontally flipped copies of your selected shapes. Place the new shapes as shown in the third image (X: 139 px Y: 241 px).

Step 29

Select both white circle and black triangles and pick the Rotate Tool. This time set the Angle to 90 ° and tap that same Copy button.

Step 30

Select your top white circle and focus on the Effects pane. Tap the color well of the existing Fill and replace the flat color with the linear gradient shown below.

Step 31

Make sure that your top circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Select the existing Stroke and set the color to black. Be sure that the Width slider is set to 1 pt and change the Alignment to Outside.

Step 32

Make sure that your top circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Add a second Stroke, select it and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 33

Make sure that your top circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the existing Drop Shadow effect and drag it below the Fill using the drag bars from the right-hand side. Select this new effect and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 34

Make sure that your top circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the existing Inner Shadow effect and drag it below the Fill using the same drag bars from the right-hand side. Select this new effect and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 35

Make sure that your top circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Add a second Inner Shadow effect and place it below the first one, and then enter the attributes shown below.

Step 36

Now you need to copy the appearance attributes of your top circle and paste them to those white circles. Make sure that your top circle is still selected and open the Edit pane. First, tap the Style command, and then tap the Copy Style command.

Now pick the Path Selection Tool and make sure that the Add to Selection mode is active. Select the three white circles and re-open the Edit pane. This time tap the Style and the Paste Style commands.

Select these three circles one by one and adjust the gradient Angle to match the appearance of the top circle. Use a -90 ° Angle for the bottom circle, a 0 ° Angle for the left circle and a 180 ° Angle for the right circle.

Step 37

Select your black triangle and focus on the Effects pane. Set the Fill and Stroke colors to R=27 G=27 B=27, and then select the Stroke. Make sure that the Width slider is set to 1 pt and check the Round Join button.

Step 38

Make sure that your triangle is still selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the Drop Shadow effect and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 39

Use that same Copy Style and Paste Style commands from the Edit pane to apply the attributes of the top triangle to the other three triangles.

Step 40

Duplicate your four circle using the same Copy and Paste commands from the Edit pane. Select all four copies and place them as shown in the following image (X: 606 px Y: 138 px).

Step 41

Make sure that the circles added in the previous step are still selected and focus on the Effects pane. Select the bottom Stroke and replace the existing color with R=186 G=63 B=53.

Step 42

Make sure that your red circles are still selected and focus on the Effects pane. Add a second Drop Shadow effect, place it below the first one and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 43

Keep focusing on your red circles and select only the top one.

Open the Label pane and add a Text label. Type a simple "X" in that text field, select Centered from the Alignment menu, and then tap the Text Style section to open the Label Style pane. Select the Arial font, keep the Regular style, change the Size to 9 pt and set the color to R=225 G=225 B=225.

Step 44

Use the same techniques and attributes to add labels for the other four red buttons. All you have to do is change the "X" with "Y", "A" and "B".

Step 45

Open the Layers panel and add a fourth layer. Name it "Sticks" and make sure that it stays selected.

Pick the Ellipse Tool and create a 38 px circle. Place this new shape as shown in the following image (X: 614 px Y: 213 px) and fill it with the linear gradient shown below.

Step 46

Make sure that your new circle stays selected and focus on the Effects pane. Select the Stroke and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 47

Make sure that your circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the Drop Shadow effect, drag it below the Fill and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 48

Make sure that your circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Add a second Drop Shadow effect, drag it below the first one, and then enter the attributes shown below.

Step 49

Make sure that your circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Add a third Drop Shadow effect, drag it below the second one, and then enter the attributes shown below.

Step 50

Make sure that your circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the Inner Shadow effect, drag it below the Fill and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 51

Make sure that your circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Add a second Inner Shadow effect, drag it below the first one, and then enter the attributes shown below.

Step 52

Pick the Ellipse Tool and create a 28 px circle. Place this new shape as shown in the following image (X: 619 px Y: 218 px) and fill it with a random red, for now.

Step 53

Pick the Line Tool and draw a 38 px, vertical line. Tap and hold with a second finger while dragging to easily create a vertical line. Add a 1 pt Stroke for this new path and pick a random yellow for the color.

Place it as shown in the first image and switch to the Rotate Tool. Set the Angle to 90° in the Tool pane and then tap that Copy button.

Step 54

Pick the Path Selection Tool and make sure that the Add to Selection mode is active.

Select both yellow lines and tap the Outline Stroke command from the Path pane. Select the resulting yellow shapes along with the red circle and tap the Union command from the same Combine pane. Fill the resulting shape with black (R=0 G=0 B=0).

Step 55

Make sure that your black shape is still selected and focus on the Effects pane. Activate the Drop Shadow effect and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 56

Pick the Ellipse Tool and create a 26 px circle. Place it as shown in the following image and fill it with the linear gradient shown below.

Step 57

Make sure that your 26 px circle is still selected and focus on the Effects pane. Activate the Inner Shadow effect and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 58

Pick the Ellipse Tool, create a 34 px circle and place it as shown in the following image (X: 616 px Y: 230 px). Fill this new shape with black and focus on the Effects pane. First, tap the Fill color well and drag the Alpha slider to 30%, and then activate the Blur effect and drag that Blur slider to 10. Once you're done, send this new shape to back.

Step 59

Select the four shape highlighted in the following image and Group them using the Group command. Make a copy of this group and place it as shown in the second image (X: 129 px Y: 146 px).

Step 60

Open the Layers panel and add a fifth layer. Name it "Small Buttons" and make sure that it stays selected.

Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and set the Radius to 1. Create a 14 px rounded square, fill it with R=59 G=63 B=65 and place it as shown in the following image (X: 146 px Y: 211 px).

Step 61

Make sure that your new rounded square stays selected and focus on the Effects pane. Select the Stroke and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 62

Make sure that your rounded square stays selected and focus on the Effects pane. Activate the Drop Shadow effect and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 63

Make sure that your rounded square stays selected and focus on the Effects pane. Activate the Inner Shadow effect, drag it below the Fill and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 64

Make sure that your rounded square stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Add a second Inner Shadow effect, drag it below the first one, and then enter the attributes shown below.

Step 65

Pick the Ellipse Tool and create a 10 px circle. Fill this new shape with R=48 G=49 B=53 and place it as shown in the following image (X: 156 px Y: 272 px).

Step 66

Make sure that your new circle stays selected and focus on the Effects pane. Activate the Drop Shadow effect and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 67

Make sure that your circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the Inner Shadow effect and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 68

Pick the Ellipse Tool and create a 20 px circle. Place this new shape as shown in the following image (X: 609 px Y: 267 px) and fill it with the linear gradient shown below.

Step 69

Make sure that your new circle stays selected and focus on the Effects pane. Select the Stroke and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 70

Make sure that your circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the Drop Shadow effect and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 71

Make sure that your circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the Inner Shadow effect, drag it below the Fill and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 72

Pick the Ellipse Tool and create a 14 px circle. Fill this new shape with R=48 G=49 B=53 and place it as shown in the following image (X: 612 px Y: 270 px).

Step 73

Make sure that your new circle stays selected and focus on the Effects pane. Activate the Drop Shadow effect and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 74

Make sure that your circle stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the Inner Shadow effect and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 75

Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and set the Radius to 1. Create a 4 x 13 px shape, fill it with black and place it as shown in the following image (X: 606 px Y: 122 px). Make sure that this new shape stays selected and switch to the Rotate Tool. Focus on the Tool pane , set the Angle to 90 degrees and tap that Copy button.

Step 76

Select both rounded rectangles made in the previous step and tap the Union command from the Combine pane.

Step 77

Make sure that your plus shape is selected, focus on the Effects pane and replace the Fill color with the linear gradient shown below.

Step 78

Make sure that your plus shape stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Select the Stroke and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 79

Make sure that your plus shape stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the Drop Shadow effect and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 80

Make sure that your plus shape stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Add a second Drop Shadow effect and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 81

Make sure that your plus shape stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Activate the Inner Shadow effect, drag it below the Fill and enter the attributes shown below.

Step 82

Make sure that your plus shape stays selected and keep focusing on the Effects pane. Add a second Inner Shadow effect, drag it below the first one, and then enter the attributes shown below.

Step 83

Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and make sure that the Radius is still set to 1. Create a 13 x 4 px shape, fill it with black and place it as shown in the following image (X: 165 px Y: 127 px).

Select that plus shape and go to Copy Style, and then select the shape made in this step and go to Paste Style. In the end things should look like in the second image.

Step 84

Open the Layers panel and add a sixth layer. Name it "BG" and make sure that it stays selected.

For the final steps you will need a grid every 5 px. Open the Grid Spacing pane and enter 5 px in both Spacing boxes.

Using the Rectangle Tool, create a 570 x 50 px shape and place it as shown in the first image (X: 105 px Y: 335 px). Focus on the top side of this new rectangle and pick the Path Selection Tool. Select both anchor points and switch to the Scale Tool. Tap and hold with a second finger while dragging the selected anchor points 30 px to the inside, as shown in the second image.

Step 85

Make sure that your trapezoid shape is still selected and focus on the Appearance pane. Lower the Opacity to 30% and then replace the Fill color with the linear gradient shown below. Also, activate the Blur effect from the Effects pane and drag that Blur slider to 20.

Step 86

Using the Rectangle Tool, create a 495 x 10 px shape and place it as shown in the first image (X: 145 px Y: 335 px). Focus on the top side of this new rectangle and pick the Path Selection Tool. Select both anchor points and switch to the Scale Tool. Tap and hold with a second finger while dragging the selected anchor points 20 px to the inside, as shown in the second image.

Step 87

Make sure that your new trapezoid shape is still selected and focus on the Effects pane. Lower the Opacity to 50% from the Appearance pane, set the Fill color to black, and then activate the Blur effect and drag that Radius slider to 6.

Step 88

Add a copy of the smaller trapezoid shape in the same place. Select it and focus on the Effects pane. Focus on the Blur effect and drag the Radius slider to 3.

Step 89

Open the Layers panel, tap & hold on the thumbnail of your "BG" layer, and then drag it in the bottom of the panel. Make sure that this layer stays selected.

Step 90

Pick the Rectangle Tool and create a 780 x 450 px shape. Fill this new shape with white, make sure that it covers your entire canvas and don't forget to send it to back with the Order slider from the Arrange pane.

Finished Design

Congratulations, you've finished the tutorial!
Hope you've enjoyed learning some of the techniques and processes presented in these steps. As always, feel free to adjust the final design and make it your own.